felt his breath on her cheek, then he kissed her. Breathless and
crimson, she struggled and pushed him from her. Suddenly his
arms fell at hisside; his face was white. "I was a brute to do
that!--Betty, forgive me! I am sorry--no, I can't be sorry!"'

"How do you dare! I hope I may never see you again--I hate you
--" said Betty furiously, tears in her eyes and her pulses still
throbbing from his fierce caress.

"Do you mean that?" he asked slowly, rising.

"Yes--yes--a million times, yes!"

"I don't believe you--I can't--I won't!" They were alongside the
New Madrid wharf now, and a certain young man who had been
impatiently watching The Naiad's lights ever since they became
visible crossed the gang-plank with a bound.

"Betty--why in the name of goodness did you ever, choose this
tub?--everything on the river has passed it!" said the newcomer.
Betty started up with a little cry of surprise and pleasure.

"Charley!"

Carrington stepped back. This must be the brother who had come
up the river from Memphis to meet her--but her brother's name was
Tom! He looked this stranger--this Charley--over with a hostile
eye, offended by his good looks, his confident manner, in which
he thought he detected an air of ownership, as if--certainly he
was holding her hands longer than was necessary! Of course,